Riverwood International Charter School

Social Studies Department

Magnet United States History
Syllabus

Instructors Tutorial Hours
Mr. Jeff Welp rm. P2 welpj@fultonschools.org Wed. AM and by appt.
Ms. Michelle Stromie rm. P4 stromie@fultonschools.org Wed. AM and by appt.
Ms. Heather Fenske rm. 917 fenske@fultonschools.org Wed. AM and by appt.
Mr. Jerome Dunson rm. 917 dunsonj1@fultonschools.org Wed. AM and by appt.
Ms. Brittany Wood rm. 705 woodb1@fultonschools.org Wed. AM and by appt.
Ms. Aubrey Southall rm. 705 southalla@fultonschools.org A Day AM and by appt.

Text
The Americans, McDougal-Littell, (2006 edition), cost: $65.00
In addition to the textbook, supplementary material will come from a variety of sources.

Course Description and Objectives
US History will examine our countrys history beginning with the colonization of the Americas through
present day events. The course will focus on the relationship between American History and world affairs,
while preparing the student for the End of Course Assessment. This is a year-long class and is required for
graduation.
Grading
The Fulton County Grading Scale is:
A = 100 90
B = 89 80
C = 79 70
F = 69 Below
Assignments will have a numerical point value. Adding the points earned and dividing by the total number of
points possible will calculate numerical averages for that assignment. Grades for the course will be calculated
using a weighted system as specified below. Students MUST keep an accurate log of their own individual
grades so that they will have a good idea of their averages at any given point in the semester. In order to remain
a magnet student in good standing, you must maintain an 80 average in this course.
U.S. History Grades
Major Assignments (40%): Tests These will mainly consist of multiple-choice questions and will be based on
material covered in class as well as reading assignments. Tests will contain maps and document-based
questions as well.

Minor Assignments (40%): Quizzes, Homework, Activities, Participation, etc. Any assignments not
completed in class will constitute homework. Also, reading of chapters and additional worksheets are
considered homework requirements. Classwork Assignments will include such things as a class notebooks -
used for taking notes and keeping class materials (proper format will be necessary for full credit) - as well as
other activities completed in the room.

Midterm & Final Exam (20%) The 1
st
Semester exam will be cumulative while the EOC will cover material
from the entire course.



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Recovery
In the event that a student is failing the course, opportunities for academic assistance are available. An academic
assistance plan is a second opportunity to demonstrate competence in the originally evaluated objectives. In
order to receive this opportunity, the STUDENT must initiate the request, and it is at the discretion of the
teacher as to which type of assistance is necessary and proper. Making up assignments that were never
completed is NOT an example of recovery; neither is retaking a test. Students will have an appropriate time
period to complete the work which corresponds to the recovery assignment, however, this period will not
exceed five (5) total days (not class periods). Test corrections will be offered after each test which will allow
students to earn partial points back on the Unit Tests. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE MUST BE INITIATED
BY THE END OF THE 14
TH
WEEK OF THE SEMESTER.

Policies and Procedures
1. General rules of behavior, as outlined in the student handbook, will be observed. In particular, you
must be on time to class.
2. Plagiarism, the unacknowledged borrowing of words or ideas, will not be tolerated, whether
intentional or accidental. Be sure to cite all outside sources carefully. Instances of plagiarism and
any other form of cheating will result in a grade of zero on the assignment, contacting of parents,
and/or reporting of an honor code violation, with no opportunity to make up the assignment.
Cellular telephone use is strictly prohibited. Please refer to the section on Academic Integrity later
in the syllabus for additional information.
3. Students are to be prepared for class each day, and all written work is due on the assigned date. All
make-up work is your responsibility. A grade of zero will show until work is turned in on any
assignment not completed.
4. Office hours and private detention are before regular school hours. See teacher 24 hours in advance
to schedule an appointment. Teachers will occasionally have morning duty and/or parent
conferences, so it is usually best to check with me before you come in to ensure that I will be in my
room. Coaching and other responsibilities may impact appointment times.
5. The primary responsibility for learning the material is yours. Every effort will be made to help
you experience success in this class. Please see me if you have questions or concerns related to the
subject matter and your grade. For matters dealing with your grade, you must see me before school
and before the beginning of the fourteenth week of the semester.
6. It is your responsibility to keep up with the work, including your class notebook.
7. Your individual teacher will discuss notebook procedures.
Course Outline/Pacing Guides
FIRST SEMESTER
Topic of Study Chapters Approximate Time Allotment
Unit 1: Colonial America Chaps. 2 & 3 3 weeks
Unit 2: Revolution to Constitution Chaps. 3 (Sec. 4) -5 3 weeks
Unit 3: Creating A Nation Chaps. 6 8 3 weeks
Unit 4: A Divided Nation Chaps. 9 - 12 3 weeks
Unit 5: Expansion and Reform Chaps. 13 - 17 4 weeks


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SECOND SEMESTER
Topic of Study Chapters Approximate Time
Allotment
Unit 6: Becoming A World Power Chaps. 18 & 19 2 weeks
Unit 7: National Crisis Chaps. 20 25 4 weeks
Unit 8: America As A World Power: Cold War Chaps. 26 28 3 weeks
Unit 9: Post World War II: Domestic Changes Chaps. 29 32 4 weeks
Unit 10: Changing Political Ideologies: Carter George W. Bush Chaps. 33 & 34 3 weeks

Academic Integrity Statement
The Riverwood Social Studies Mission Statement provides that teachers develop the whole person by
nurturing in students a sense of responsibility. Students need to be cognizant of what is right and what is
wrong. Honesty is one of our highest values. If we are to develop students as contributing citizens of society,
we as teachers need to ensure the moral honesty of our students and instill academic integrity. We define a
lack of academic integrity to be dishonest or deceitful behavior shown by students who gain an unfair
academic advantage through, but not limited to, some of the following methods; plagiarism; copying another's
work when it is not explicitly encouraged by the teacher; providing details of a specific test or quiz before,
during, or after the event; the use of unauthorized aids on tests, such as cheat sheets or programmed
calculators; or recycling/reusing a previous paper or project of one's own or another's without the explicit
consent of the teacher.
The following information is an excerpt from the Honor Code information in the Student Handbook. Please
consult the Handbook for the comprehensive statement and procedures.
Violations of academic fraud include but are not limited to:
1. Submitting work from a previous class in a current class (old essays, old lab reports, old projects, old
notebooks, past tests, etc.).
2. Using any graded material (notebooks, tests, essays, lab reports, homework, or other graded assignments
from another student, previous or current) without teachers permission and direction.
3. Manufacturing or creating data or sources.
4. Discussion of the content of tests or evaluations to other students outside of class or between classes until
every student has been tested.
5. Dividing the tasks in a group activity (without permission) instead of working collaboratively to complete the
activity.
6. Acquiring copies of tests before the actual testing period so as to have an unfair advantage during the
evaluation.
7. Using notes or information from any unauthorized source, including but not limited to information written
on desks, person, pieces of paper (cheat sheets), water bottles, backpacks, or entered into graphing
calculators or other devices.
8. Looking at another students work during a test.
9. Any form of communication during an evaluation (passing materials, whispering, talking, signaling, or
mouthing words to other students.).
10. Taking a test or assessment for another student.
11. Refusing to comply with conditions of the Riverwood Testing Environment (see Section V or the academic
integrity policy).
12. Any act that can give unfair academic advantage to a student, his/her grades, or his/her records.


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PERSONAL HONOR VERIFICATION

Each student will hand write the following pledge on designated assignments prior to handing it in to the
instructor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment followed
by the students signature.

Disciplinary Action
Depending on the severity of the violation, disciplinary action may range from a warning or admonition, to an F
grade for an assignment.

DUE PROCESS
Every student has the right to appeal an Honor Code Violation. To file an appeal, see the student handbook for
the appropriate procedure

SANCTIONS
Major assignments, as defined by the teacher, student receives 0 and Parent Connect will show a
CH for that assignment.
On minor assignments, as defined by the teacher, student may receive a 0 on assignment, Parent
Connect will show a CH, a chance to resubmit the assignment without penalty, or a chance to
resubmit the assignment with a penalty, will be determined by the teacher.
Notification to post-secondary institution via the recommendation process
One of the following sanctions will be imposed by the Assistant Principal for Instruction if applicable:
o Ineligibility for school awards/scholarships/leadership
o Demotion from positions held in clubs, organizations, including athletics
o Suspension from clubs and activities
o Removal from clubs and activities

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND HONOR VIOLATIONS PLEASE
SEE STUDENT HANDBOOK.
Absences
Students who have an excused absence will have 5 days to make up work. It is your responsibility to request
missed work in a timely matter. Two class periods is considered a reasonable time. Failure to do so will result in
a zero for work not made up within the 5 day time frame. Unexcused absences result in one day to make up
assignment(s).
Late Work Policy
Late work is unacceptable. However, in the event that a student plans to turn in an assignment late, he or she
must communicate with the instructor. In the case that work is accepted late, 10 points will be deducted for
each day the assignment is late. No unit work will be accepted for after the Unit Test.






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11th Grade Magnet United States History
Please sign below indicating that you have read, understand, and agree to the course expectations, policies, and
requirements.

________________________________________
Student name (printed)

________________________________________ ________________________
Student signature Date

________________________________________ ________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date

________________________________________ ________________________
Parent/Guardian E-mail Address Parent/Guardian Phone #